ORIGINS
The driving force behind Fight Like a Grrrl Club (FLAG) emerged from the devastation we endured as a community in the search for a missing young woman from Nelson County in 2013, Alexis Tiara Murphy. Choosing to put their skills to use, 2nd Degree Black Belt Sally Rose & 5th Degree Black Belt Josh Copson began offering self defense classes.
FLAG was officially founded in 2018 and received 501c3 nonprofit status in 2019. We travel regionally to host free pop up workshops that teach individuals self defense training and education. With self defense techniques and strategies that are simple, efficient and effective, it is our goal to empower folks and awaken their indomitable spirit.
MISSION
We strive to empower people with the ability to protect their physical and emotional wellbeing through female-driven self-defense education. Our instruction includes de-escalation and avoidance techniques, strategies for mildly aggressive situations, and survival self defense skills, to prepare students for any situation they may encounter, from uncomfortable to life-threatening.
We focus on helping vulnerable populations and survivors of assault, but we welcome all people into our classes. Our long-term goal is to train teachers throughout Virginia and the U.S. to bring this program to their communities.
VISION
Our mission is not only to teach self-defense but also to empower grrrls, raise awareness & change the way society condones an unsafe world for womyn & girls which makes this type of self-defense instruction necessary. In our classes we discuss ways to defuse or prevent these situations and outside our classes we fight to change the culture that teaches girls it's rude to say no and it's unladylike to fight back. We teach girls how to set boundaries, say NO & to fight back. We firmly believe that self defense education should be for all womyn, regardless of income level. We provide traveling, pop-up workshops. Can’t afford training? Our classes are FREE. Don’t have a means of transportation? Tell us where you are, we’ll build a workshop in your hometown. We aim to teach girls, female-identifying and non-binary folx in a non-discriminatory space, but all genders are welcome.
Our goal is to help create a world in which everyone can walk without fear.